What triage category is assigned to a casualty with a tension pneumothorax?

A casualty with a tension pneumothorax is assigned to the immediate triage category because this condition presents a life-threatening emergency that requires urgent intervention. Tension pneumothorax occurs when air becomes trapped in the pleural space and exerts pressure on the lungs and heart, leading to respiratory distress and hemodynamic instability.

This situation can rapidly deteriorate if not treated promptly, as it can cause a collapse of the lung, decreased oxygenation, and compromised blood circulation. Immediate medical intervention, typically through needle decompression followed by chest tube placement, is critical to alleviate the pressure and restore normal respiratory and cardiovascular function.

In contrast, other triage categories such as minimal, delayed, and expectant are intended for situations where the urgency of care is less critical. Individuals in the minimal category can wait for care without risk of rapid deterioration, those classified as delayed require care but can safely wait a brief period, and expectant cases involve injuries so severe that survival is unlikely, thus prioritizing resources for those more likely to survive. Therefore, the classification of tension pneumothorax as immediate reflects the necessity for swift action to save the casualty’s life.